FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The funny thing is, if one is very good at knowing their boss's schedule, they can avoid them like the plague. Ayala had found herself in an interesting situation the last few days, usually she was so desperate to catch glimpses of the man who plagued her dreams, but now she was frantically trying to escape him. Anytime he was in the hallway, she ducked into a room, she collected files before or after he entered his office, his coffee was waiting for him before he arrived, and she just was so tired of running, but she could not let him see how much she needed him. She couldn't afford to have those eyes on her again.

“It's interesting how the tables have turned, isn't it, Little Fawn?"

It's funny because the one thing she never anticipated, was him coming to her. Pride never lowered himself to seek out another, let alone one so below his station. So why was he standing over her now, looking around her shoulder as she typed away on the computer? Why was he purring those words into her ear?

“Sir?" she whispered, trying to stop her voice from trembling.

“Well, aren't you the one usually finding me? You do usually bring me my coffee… take my files… answer my demands without question," the brush of his warm breath floated across her ear, down her neck.

“I'm still doing those things, sir," she said, pursing her lips.

“Ah, yes and no. You no longer seek me out, and you definitely aren't doing what I want," his hands landed on the back of her chair, and she could feel press of his warm fingers against her back.

She leaned forward slightly, trying to discreetly move away from where his hands gripped her seat, and she heard him laugh lightly. It wasn't fair. The heat that rushed through her at the sound showed just how much she loved him, and that no matter how much she feared being noticed by him, he could still make her melt.

“Well, it's time to go back to being my good little helper, yes? I really need to talk with you, so I will be here to pick you up tonight before you leave. Don't even try to leave before me, security knows not to let you," he said rapping his knuckles on the wooden edge of the chair.

Ayala gasped in indignation, furious that he would go so far as to keep her hostage at work, she whirled around to yell at him- her boss. Yet she froze, once she met that honey gold gaze, as he looked at her from behind the black rims of glasses. He narrowed his eyes challengingly, tilting his chin, and even if she wasn't sitting, even if she was close to him in height, she would have felt so miniscule. She glanced away and nodded, swallowing thickly.

He grinned, “Good girl."

She would deny to the ends of the realm, that those words spoken in that sinful growl, made her shiver and thighs shift. Instead, she hunched over the keyboard in front of her, the strokes of her fingers sounding louder as she typed more furiously. She studiously ignored the dull tap of his shoes as he walked away, she ignored the desire to watch him leave, and she ignored the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

Ayala was aware she couldn't sneak out this time, she stared at the dim glow of her desk lamp as if it could explain to her the answer to all her problems. Sadly, the object stayed silent. She shouldn't keep avoiding him anyway, she turned her sad eyes to the cool blue grey of the wall in front of her. It seemed to mock her for her cowardice.

“He's just such a bully," she whispered, as if she needed to justify her actions to her office.

She wasn't used to this kind of attention; she wasn't used to any kind of attention. Not even during her mortal years. Why would he be interested in spending hours after work with her? Even though she complained, even though her mind screamed at the unjustness of it all, her traitorous stomach flutter at the thought that Pride may actually want her for more than just a secretary. It wasn't like a demon especially one of his caliber to remember names and faces unnecessarily.

The workday seemed to drag on, her panicked eyes watching the red of the Under Realm's sun drop below the horizon at a seemingly snail's pace. The more often she looked, the more anxious she grew and in consequence, the more time it appeared to take for the day to end.

Ayala breathed a sigh of relief when seven rolled around, only to then toss her head into her hands and ruffle her brown hair with a groan. She knew once this meeting was over everything would be fine. There wasn't really any reason to be nervous. Though it was off the clock, it had to have something to do with work. Pride really had no need for her otherwise, no matter what her subconscious hoped.

That was how Ayala got herself to stand, how she managed to control the nervous tremor to her hands when she put away her pens, and it was how she kept her chin high when she boarded the elevator for the bottom floor.

She was certain it was because she acted like a little antsy shit when she arrived at the bottom floor, that security recognized her. There was no actual way they knew what she looked like. But Pride was good at making people feel small and hesitant to go against his orders. So, it was probably rare he'd gotten as much of a run around as he had with Ayala, most Under Realm dwellers wouldn't dream of going against his orders and even more eagerly threw themselves at him.

She couldn't blame them though. Ayala was certain she just retained too much of her human sensibilities to do the same. She had too much shame to do more than what she was paid for when it came to him. Though how she craved for him to show her just what a demon's dick could do…, she shook her head and pursed her lips in a frown as she shifted from foot to foot.

The ding of an arriving elevator pulled her focus to the shiny sliding doors, and there stood her boss. In all his lanky, massive glory. So tall if he had maybe a few more inches he'd have to duck to get out of the elevator. His hair was a little more disheveled than it had been when she'd seen him. A section falling in front his glasses and a couple stray loops slipping out of his part. He still somehow pulled off the guise of perfection personified. He looked up to meet her gaze and she felt her cheeks burn with the way his lips curved in that cock-eyed arrogant smirk.

“Well, well, well, you seem to have taken what I said to heart, Little Fawn," his grin widened enough to show the points of his canines. “I'm glad. I'm not usually one who likes chasing skirts, but you will definitely be worth it."

Her stomach swooped and she felt lightheaded, like she might throw up. He was teasing her. He had to be. What he was insinuating was just that, an insinuation, because he knew he could, and because he was an incorrigible flirt.

Still, she felt her cheeks burn harder and her eyes dropped from his. She only looked up when she felt the gentle pressure of two fingers under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his intense gaze once again. The shimmer of their golden depths behind the crystal-clear panels of glass, captured her in an instant. She swallowed and futilely fought against the hypnotic tide they seemed to create in her mind.

She needed to go into whatever this meeting was clear headed, so she took half a step back, just enough to be able to grab control of her hormones again. Pride took the retreat with ease, merely tilting his head as his smirk grew into a toothier smile and his pupils took on a gleam at the knowledge he was affecting her so fast.

“How about we head off, hm?" his hand found a home on the center of her lower back, guiding her out the building.

“Um… sir?" she said, hesitantly.

He cocked an eyebrow as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, “Yes?"

“Where are we going?" she had every desire to dig her heels in and stop moving, every desire to turn and run because this was going places that she wasn't prepared for.

“I figured we could get something to eat while I discuss my offer with you," he said, opening the door and letting into the warm sticky air of the evening. “Though I must admit my ignorance of what it is human souls require as sustenance when… given solid form."

Pride's eyes roved over the curves of her hips that her pencil skirt did little to hide. Ayala frowned and tugged at her skirt subconsciously.

“Um, I can pretty much eat anything, though I prefer to avoid the more… demonic indulgences," she carefully found words she deemed politically acceptable when speaking to her boss.

Pride was a strange man, despite his flirtatious nature he was well spoken, well dressed, impeccably put together, and he was so intelligent it scared her. He was someone so terrifyingly worthy of her love if she only looked at his good sides, but his bad parts were just… so bad. It was to the point she wished she could stop her emotions from running away with her.

She stared up at him as they waited on the sidewalk, the hand not anchored to her back had found it's way deep into the pocket of his suit jacket. For a moment she wondered why they were just waiting in the humid air of the coming dusk, but then a pair of lights drew closer, and a sleek blue car pulled up.

“Sir," the valet nodded to Pride as he handed off the keys, and the door opened in front of Ayala as she blinked at the shiny paint of the car.

“Getting in?" Pride's head tilted as he held the door open, putting light but insistent pressure with his fingertips on her back.

She gasped, “Right, sorry sir."

Pride's eyes glimmered in the dipping rays of the sun, something she realized happened regularly when she addressed him. He really did like feeling important. She slipped inside, keeping her eyes lowered, and he moved around to the other side.

The seats in the car were low, it was a sporty car, so the extra cushion up front made up for the poor excuse for seating in back. It felt as if she got swallowed by the smooth leather, but when he got in, all the extra space was understandable. He was such a ridiculously tall and lean man. The car seemed to be just barely big enough to accommodate him.

He looked good sitting at the wheel, and when the various white-yellows and baby blues glowed across his skin as he started the engine, it made the entire car feel ethereal. He looked so confident and from the way his eyes narrowed, and hands easily found a home on the wheel, she knew he loved driving. It was funny how he loved something from the demonic world that was so entirely human, when he was one of the oldest demons still alive.

He took off into the light traffic with such an ease it took her breath away. Watching the world blend outside the window behind him was like she was seeing a separate side to him, something magical no one else knew about. Which she knew was a goddamn lie, plenty of others probably had ridden right where she was now.

“I figured we go to Mephis and Memphis? What do you think? They have some amazing breakfast food that they serve all day, they also make good barbecue," he offered.

She laughed, Ayala laughed so hard she snorted in front of the man who was always perfect and gorgeous, and she was hopelessly in love with. But she couldn't help it, she thought for some reason he'd take her to some ridiculous high rise, fine dining place. Instead, he wanted to take her to the place with the best biscuits and gravy in town and amazing pulled pork sandwiches.

He frowned and shot a glance over at her, “What? I mean we don't have to go there if you don't want to."

“No, no, I'm sorry really, let's go there. Honestly, I love their biscuits and gravy, I just didn't expect you to," she tilted her head and smiled genuinely.

His expression softened and he shook his head, “I don't like that, but I do like their chimera brisket sandwiches. Been craving one for a while."

She blinked, laughed again, though it was softer this time more like a giggle and he couldn't help but smile slightly in response to the way it seemed to lighten the atmosphere in the car to immeasurable heights. She truly was surprised by him. Perhaps he wasn't as refined as his outward appearance made her assume, but he was still proud, and had no fear mentioning what he wanted or liked.

The ride to the restaurant didn't take long, and it passed in relatively comfortable silence after the discussion of where to eat. Pride dropped her off in front of the doors with clear instructions not to panic and try to run, that there was a reservation under his name. She wasn't sure if she should be insulted that he though she would run, or if she should actually try to escape and once again prolong this awkward dance.

However, she did as she was told, her desire to please her boss too strong as it pulled her toward the maître di, “I'm here under the name… Pride?"

She assumed that was the name he used, that was all she knew him by, and she'd never heard another name even gossiped about. Though she supposed a true name would make sense. The waiter rose her eyebrow at Ayala, suspicion clear in her green eyes, but she tapped her long nails against the tablet beneath her and nodded.

“Mr. Pride is assigned to a private table here, but how-," she eyed Ayala up and down critically. “Do I know you are his guest?"

Ayala rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Because obviously I just go around to barbecue restaurants asking his name and finding his reservations. Please, really?"

The sound of a throat clearing softly, and one she recognized very well, caused Ayala to stiffen. The headwaitress's eyes widened slightly when the demon in question stepped up beside his secretary.

“Well, I'd like to get some dinner," Pride sighed, narrowing his golden eyes in a way the contradicted the calm of his voice.

Sensing his annoyance, the waitress quickly gathered two menus and once again his large hand found the space on Ayala's back. Despite the tension that radiated from him, his guidance was gentle while he encouraged her to follow the demon in front of them. Was his skin always this warm? How did he stand it?

She would admit having him touching her in such an intimate way made it very hard to concentrate. It was a small miracle she didn't trip over her own feet.

When they stepped into a small room with a single two-seater table and a beautiful mural of the human sky depicted in masses of white and purple swirls against a backdrop of black, Ayala glanced at him. She never knew this place had private rooms. It was just some restaurant that had amazing food, but nothing fancy, or so she'd thought.

He grinned, “Private rooms are very common in all the well-known establishments in the Under Realm. This place has three."

Three? How much had he paid to get this one? Ayala's eyes widened as the waitress waved her hand over a crystal and it lit up in a slow rotation of cool blues, dark purples, and gentle pinks.

“It's beautiful," she whispered, really, she hadn't meant to, it just slipped out.

But it was the truth, the way the walls seemed to soak up the light and in turn become real, was enrapturing. Pride moved around her and pulled out a chair silently, and she followed without taking her eyes from the walls.

The waitress finished setting up the table before leaving with a quick murmur, “Someone will be in shortly."

While she stared at the shifting colors on the walls and ceiling, the sound of scraping wood on stone brought her attention across the table to where Pride folded his lanky frame into the chair. An amused smile curved his lips as he looked at her literally star-filled eyes, it was so amazing to see how this room brought out her simplistic human beauty.

“So can I ask what you wanted to talk about now?" she asked quietly, afraid that speaking too loud would break the spell the room seemed to hold on her.

“If you want to jump right into the nitty gritty, I suppose we can. Though we could also enjoy some wine before," he placed his head on his cheek with a heavy sigh, as if talking business was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Honestly, sir, I'd prefer to just get this over with. It's made me nervous for a while," she admitted.

“You don't say?" he laughed lightly. “Well… how do you feel about marriage?"

She then proceeded to choke on air, “How… wha-?"

Her brain stuttered to a halt, and he didn't try to explain himself. He watched as she tried to puzzle out his words, as she looked for some sort of trickery, and then she slowly tried to respond.

“I'm sorry, sir? I am not… sure why that matters?"

His smile grew and a flash of his canines danced in the colored lights, “I need a wife and considering what I'm looking for, you, Little Fawn, would make such a wonderful one."

'Nope,' her brain broke again, and the world turned black. But just before she lost consciousness, she had the distinct thought of, 'Wow, guess souls can faint.'